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Comparative Craniometric Measurements of Two Sympatric Species of Vulpes in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia

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Comparative Craniometric Measurements of Two Sympatric Species of Vulpes in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia © 2018 Journal compilation ISSN 1684-3908 (print edition) http://mjbs.num.edu.mn Mongolian Journal of Biological http://biotaxa.org./mjbs Sciences MJBS Volume 16(1), 2018 ISSN 2225-4994 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.22353/mjbs.2018.16.03 Original Article Comparative Craniometric Measurements of Two Sympatric Species of Vulpes in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia Tserendorj Munkhzul1, Richard P. Reading2, Bayarbaatar Buuveibaatar3 & James D. Murdoch4 1Mammalian Ecology Laboratory, Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 2International Conservation Coalition, Denver, Colorado 80220 USA, Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster, Colorado 80020 USA & Mongolian Conservation Coalition, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 3Wildlife Conservation Society, Mongolia Program, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 4Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, George Aiken Center, Burlington, Vermont 05405 USA Abstract Key words: Corsac fox; In Mongolia, both the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and corsac fox (Vulpes corsac) occupy cranium; morphometry; broad sympatric ranges, but despite their expansive ranges, few published details of red fox; Vulpes; skull. the craniometry of either species exist in Mongolia and other parts of northern and Article information: central Asia. To determine the morphological differences between two species of Received: 08 Febr. 2018 foxes, we tested for morphological and morphometrical differences between the red Accepted: 31 May 2018 (n = 13) and corsac (n = 11) foxes using 63 cranium measurements. All significantly Published online: different skull variables were larger for red foxes than corsac foxes. This paper 12 June 2018 reports comparison of the cranial measurements from skulls of red and corsac foxes Correspondence: and serves as a preliminary investigation of interspecific variation between these [email protected] species. Cite this paper as: Munkhzul, Ts., Reading, R. P., Buuveibaatar, B. & Murdoch, J. D. 2018. Comparative craniometric measurements of two sympatric species of Vulpes in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia. Mong. J. Biol. Sci., 16(1): 19-28. Introduction Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and corsac fox requires knowledge of the species’ biology (Vulpes corsac) populations have declined and ecology, including especially the influence over recent years in Mongolia due to over- of poaching on population size and structure harvesting triggered by a high demand for furs (Murdoch et al., 2010b). and habitat degradation (Clark et al., 2006, The corsac fox differs in body size from Wingard & Zahler 2006). As a result, both sympatric congeners in the overlapping parts of species were designated under the IUCN Red their ranges. Corsac foxes may reach the body List Categories and Criteria as Near Threatened mass of the smallest red foxes, but generally regionally in 2006 (Clark et al., 2006), and corsac foxes are much smaller than red foxes, Least Concern globally more recently (Murdoch whose body mass ranges from 3-14 kg (Lariviere 2014; Hoffmann & Sillero-Zubiri 2016). Long- & Pasitschniak-Arts, 1996; Clark et al., 2009, term conservation of Mongolian fox populations Murdoch et al., 2009). Red foxes display sexual 19 20 Munkhzul et al. Craniometric measurements of two Vulpes species dimorphism in body weight and proportions from 140-150 mm (Lariviere & Pasitschniak- in many areas (Kolb & Hewson, 1974; Lups Arts, 1996, Clark et al., 2009). In addition, & Wandeler, 1983; Wandeler & Lups, 1993; corsac foxes have a less-developed and lower Macdonald & Sillero-Zubiri, 2004), including sagittal crest, a more gradually tapering rostrum, differences between male and female red fox and smaller, flatter auditory bullae than do red skulls from several different regions (Churcher, foxes (Sokolov & Orlov, 1980; Sheldon, 1992; 1960; Huson & Page, 1979; Lups & Wandeler, Clark et al., 2009). 1983; Fairly & Bruton, 1984; Hell et al., 1989; Ansorge, 1994; Lynch, 1996). Such dimorphism Materials and Methods could complicate comparisons between red and corsac foxes. Additional research found that We studied red and corsac fox samples parasites could modify skull dimensions in other obtained from skulls found opportunistically species (Demuth et al., 2009); however, whether and from radio-collared animals that died due or not this phenomenon occurs among foxes to poaching ornatural causes during ecological living in the wild, remain unknown. research in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve in Mongolia. Researchers have studied the morphology We collected 24 skull samples of red (n = 13) and craniometrics of red foxes and, to a lesser and corsac (n = 11) foxes in Ikh Nart between extent, corsac foxes in other parts of their ranges 2004 and 2008. The samples were stored (Ognev, 1962; Sokolov & Orlov, 1980; Churcher, in paper bags prior to transferring them to 1960; Huson & Page, 1979; Lups & Wandeler, the Mammalian Ecology Laboratory of the 1983; Fairly & Bruton, 1984; Hell et al., 1989; Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Ansorge, 1994; Lynch, 1996), but few published Mongolian Academy of Sciences. details exist on the cranial measurements of these We sorted the skulls by species; cleaned them species in Mongolia. Previous work found that of skin, flesh, and debris (mostly soil) and stored corsac foxes demonstrated a smaller total skull them in plastic bags. Skulls and mandibles were length than do red foxes, whose skulls range then soaked in antiseptic for 2 hours before Figure 1. Measurements of the cranium of a fox Figure 2. Measurements of the cranium of a fox (Vulpes spp.) skull and dorsal view. See Table 1 for (Vulpes spp.) skull and basal view. See Table 1 for definitions of the abbreviations. definitions of the abbreviations. Figure 3. Measurements of the cranium of a fox Figure 4. Measurements of the cranium of a fox (Vulpes spp.) skull and lateral view. See Table 1 for (Vulpes spp.) skull and nuchal view. See Table 1 for definitions of the abbreviations. definitions of the abbreviations. Mongolian Journal of Biological Sciences 2018 Vol. 16 (1-2) 21 collecting craniometric measurements. We measurements were provided in Table 1. used calipers for craniometry to an accuracy We also compared our results with other of 0.1 mm, following the skull measurement published data (Storm et al., 1976; Lynch, methods outlined by Von den Driesch (1976) 1996; Temizer, 2001). Following Grue and and Frackowiak et al. (2013). We gathered Jensen (1973), we counted cementum layers data on a total of 63 metric variables (Figures on longitudinally sanded canine roots as our 1-9). Definitions for the abbreviations of our primary procedure for age determination. Degree of fusion of cranial sutures, clothing of the tooth pulp, and the wear of the occlusal surface of M1 were used to confirm age determinations. Length parameters of the red fox skulls almost reach full size by 6 months of age, but width dimensions continue increasing until the second year of life Figure 5. Measurements of the mandible of a fox Figure 6. Measurements of the maxillary and (Vulpes spp.) skull and lateral view. See Table 1 for mandibular teeth of a fox (Vulpes spp.) skull. See Table definitions of the abbreviations. 1 for definitions of the abbreviations. Figure 7. Dorsal view of the skull of a) red fox (V. vulpes) and b) corsac fox (V. corsac) collected in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia. esc – external sagittal crest, ip – interparietal suture,tl– temporal line, if – interfrontalsuture, zp – zygomatic process, np – nasal processes. Figure 8. Nuchal view of the skull of a) red fox (V. vulpes) and b) corsac fox (V. corsac) collected in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia. esc – external sagittal crest, nc – nuchal crest, spo– squamous part of the occipital bone, oc – occipital condyle, pp – paracondylar process, tb – tympanic bulla, fm – foramen magnum. 22 Munkhzul et al. Craniometric measurements of two Vulpes species Table 1. Abbreviations of measurements made on red (V. vulpes) and corsac (V. corsac) fox skulls from Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia. Actual measurements are illustrated in Figures 1-5. Abbre- Measurement description Abbre- Measurement description viation viation Cranium measurements Ak-B: Height of the occipital triangle A-P: Total length B-Op: Height of the foramen magnum Ak-Fm: Upper neurocranium length BPp: Greatest breadth of the bases of the para- N-P: Viscerocranium length occipital processes Fm-P: Facial length BOc: Greatest breadth of the occipital condyles N-Rh: Greatest length of nasals BFm: Greatest breadth of the foramen magnum Or-P: “Snout” length Mandible measurements Zy-Zy: Zygomatic breadth Cp-I: Total length from condyle process NB: Greatest neurocranium breadth Ap-I: Length from angular process LBS: Least breadth of skull Cp-Ap: Length from indentation between the Ect-Ect: Frontal breadth condyle process and angularprocess Ent-Ent: Least breadth between the orbits Cp-Ca: Length from condyle process to the ab- oral border of the canine alveolus CbL: Condylobasal length LCp- Length from indentation between the B-P: Basal length Ap: condyle process and angularprocess to B-S: Basicranial axis the aboral border of the canine alveolus S-P: Basifacial axis Ap-Ca: Length from the angular process to the St-P: Median palatal length (see Figure 2) aboral border of the canine alveolus St-P*: Palatal length (see Figure 2) M3-Ca: Length from the aboral border of the alveolus of M to the aboral border ofthe St-Po: Length of the horizontal part of the pala- 3 tine (see Figure 2)
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